American Business Bank is a legacy bank working with middle market companies focused building valuable relationships. Their clients’ needs drive their values of providing prompt and personal service along with their commitment to the safety and security of their clients’ money. ABB was ready for a change after being located in the historic PacMutual building since their inception in 1997. As strong and established as the historic building felt, their steady growth had left their office feeling disjointed and dated. They looked to update not only the ABB brand but a space that could reflect their modern yet conservative future ahead. American Business Bank selected Wirt Design to translate their brand and culture into a built environment for their new corporate headquarters located in Downtown Los Angeles.
Transparency and warmth were at the forefront of ABB’s requests for their new space, and the 3rd floor Reception successfully captures those elements to give an impactful first impression. Frameless glass doors and expansive windows draw the user in from the elevator lobby towards the direct exterior view. The wood clad walls and concrete flooring starts the story of the overall modern warmth that continues throughout the entire office. Adjacent is the Teller Line purposefully designed to meet the bank’s unique needs and create a more personal customer experience. The non-client facing space begins with the Executive wing which holds a small Coffee Bar for the team to gather or lounge along with a Board Room infused with state-of-the-art technology. Glass front Offices and Meeting Rooms with glass sliding doors provide visual transparency but do not skimp on acoustic privacy. With the Open Offices positioned on the exterior glazing, natural daylighting can be utilized by the entirety of the staff whether they’re in their workstations or Private Offices. All departments are thoughtfully organized on the floor and easily accessible between each other fostering more collaboration. The Kitchen is a centralized multi-functional space with an adjacent Training Room that can be opened to create a large event space as needed for company gatherings. To maximize the usable space of these rooms, the operable partition selected was a retractable acoustic model that took up minimal space in the ceiling when opened.
American Business Bank’s new office space has successfully captured their brand while creating an invigorated sense of pride for their employees that will carry their company into a new era of growth.
